Big jumps in supplier delivery times, employment, and prices look to be behind the improved...

Big jumps in supplier delivery times, employment, and prices look to be behind the improved headline read in the Chicago PMI, but the gauge's best leading indicator - new orders - took a big hit, falling to 45.3 from 50.6, the lowest level since June 2009. "Business sales (have) been slowing throughout the year, and continue to slow, but now at an increasing rate; becoming very alarming." (full report)